Abstract Introduction Tinnitus is a prevalent condition among many different populations. Since tinnitus is subjective, self-report questionnaires are one way of assessing how much the condition interferes with the quality of life of an individual. Objective The aim of the present study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Skarzynski Tinnitus Scale (STS) into Brazilian Portuguese and validate its psychometric properties. Methods The STS was translated and cross-culturally adapted using five main steps. Fifty-eight individuals who had continuous tinnitus were invited to complete the questionnaire. Pure tone audiometry (air and bone conduction) were also done. Results No major changes were necessary in translating the scale. The overall score was 1.3 (range 0–4). Internal consistency was tested by Cronbach α, which ranged from 0.54 to 0.85. Differences between genders and between subscales and the total score were not significant. A statistically significant difference was only found in the coping subscale, in which normal hearing subjects had higher scores than those with hearing loss. Conclusion The translation and adaptation of the STS established linguistic and cultural equivalence with the original. In addition, it exhibited good internal consistency. Our results suggest that the STS is suitable for use in a clinical setting.

Abstract Introduction Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative and progressive neurological disorder characterized by resting tremor, stiffness, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Despite the motor symptoms, PD patients also consistently show cognitive impairment or executive dysfunction. The auditory event-related potential P300 has been described as the best indicator of mental function, being highly dependent on cognitive skills, including attention and discrimination. Objective To review the literature on the application and findings of P300 as an indicator of PD. Data Analysis The samples ranged from 7 to 166 individuals. Young adult and elderly male patients composed most study samples. The Mini-Mental State Examination test, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to assess neurological and cognitive function. In terms of testing hearing function, few studies have focused on parameters other than the P300. The factors we focused on were how the P300 was modified by cognitive effects, its correlation with different PD scales, the effect of performing dual tasks, the effect of fatigue, and the influence of drug treatments. Conclusion The use of the P300 appears to be an effective assessment tool in patients with PD. This event-related potential seems to correlate well with other neurocognitive tests that measure key features of the disease.

OBJETIVO: Comparar a mortalidade em 28 dias e desfechos clínicos em pacientes com pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) internados em UTI conforme a estratégia diagnóstica utilizada. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico randomizado prospectivo. Dos 73 pacientes incluídos no estudo, 36 e 37, respectivamente, foram randomizados para a realização de LBA ou aspiração traqueal (AT). A antibioticoterapia inicial baseou-se em diretrizes e foi ajustada de acordo com os resultados das culturas quantitativas. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade em 28 dias foi semelhante nos grupos LBA e AT (25,0% e 37,8%, respectivamente; p = 0,353). Não houve diferenças entre os grupos em relação a duração da ventilação mecânica, antibioticoterapia, complicações secundárias, recidiva de PAVM ou tempo de permanência hospitalar e na UTI. A antibioticoterapia inicial foi considerada adequada em 28 (77,8%) e 30 (83,3%) dos pacientes nos grupos LBA e AT, respectivamente (p = 0,551). A mortalidade em 28 dias não se associou com a adequação da antibioticoterapia inicial nos grupos LBA e AT (tratamento apropriado: 35,7% vs. 43,3%; p = 0,553; e tratamento inapropriado: 62,5% vs. 50,0%; p = 1,000). O uso prévio de antibióticos não interferiu no rendimento das culturas nos grupos AT e LBA (p = 0,130 e p = 0,484, respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES: No contexto deste estudo, o manejo dos pacientes com PAVM, baseado nos resultados da cultura quantitativa do aspirado traqueal, resultou em desfechos clínicos semelhantes aos obtidos com os resultados da cultura quantitativa do LBA. (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - ReBEC; número de identificação RBR-86DCDX [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br])

OBJECTIVE: To compare 28-day mortality rates and clinical outcomes in ICU patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia according to the diagnostic strategy used. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial. Of the 73 patients included in the study, 36 and 37 were randomized to undergo BAL or endotracheal aspiration (EA), respectively. Antibiotic therapy was based on guidelines and was adjusted according to the results of quantitative cultures. RESULTS: The 28-day mortality rate was similar in the BAL and EA groups (25.0% and 37.8%, respectively; p = 0.353). There were no differences between the groups regarding the duration of mechanical ventilation, antibiotic therapy, secondary complications, VAP recurrence, or length of ICU and hospital stay. Initial antibiotic therapy was deemed appropriate in 28 (77.8%) and 30 (83.3%) of the patients in the BAL and EA groups, respectively (p = 0.551). The 28-day mortality rate was not associated with the appropriateness of initial therapy in the BAL and EA groups (appropriate therapy: 35.7% vs. 43.3%; p = 0.553; and inappropriate therapy: 62.5% vs. 50.0%; p = 1.000). Previous use of antibiotics did not affect the culture yield in the EA or BAL group (p = 0.130 and p = 0.484, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of this study, the management of VAP patients, based on the results of quantitative endotracheal aspirate cultures, led to similar clinical outcomes to those obtained with the results of quantitative BAL fluid cultures.